Welcome to Sleeper Picks. Sleeper’s newest offering promised plenty of entertainment and action, and they delivered. We will break down our top three picks for tonight’s NBA action. Sleeper is quickly becoming one of the most popular season-long fantasy platforms, and they are expanding into other areas based on demand. Each week in this space, we’ll talk about some strategy for the new platform while providing our favorite NBA more/less picks.
NBA Sleeper Picks Player Predictions (3/19)
Victor Wembanyama (C – SAS): 2.5 1st quarter rebounds
Wemby has been starting hot on the boards lately, averaging 4.6 rebounds per first quarter over his past five games, hauling in at least three in each. Wemby has recorded three or more first quarter rebounds rebounds in each of his last 11 games. As the 1.80 multiplier suggests, this is far from automatic, as Wemby has had a concerning amount of games with zero or one first quarter rebound. Still, this play is about recent form and the inherent value presented by the total being posted at 2.5 instead of 3.5. Work with the More on Wemby for Tuesday night.
Pick: More
Nikola Jokic (C – DEN): 0.5 double-doubles
Jokic double double is no longer the automatic afterthought that it once was. Yes, Jokic remains a nightly triple double threat but has posted single digit rebounds on six different occasions since the start of February. Still, the Joker has posted a double double in three of his last four games and in 11 of his last 13 games. Jokic hung 25 points and 10 rebounds on the Minnesota Timberwolves in their lone meeting earlier this season and is sure to be completely up for a matchup against the short-handed T’Wolves squad as the Nuggets look to tie up the season series before playing them two more times in the following 10 games. These matchups are key and could ultimately help decide who ends up as the first seed in the Western Conference. Jab the More on Jokic for Tuesday night basketball.
Pick: More
Michael Porter Jr. (F – DEN): 4.5 1st quarter points
MPJ has been on fire to start games for the Denver Nuggets, averaging 7.4 first quarter points per game over his last five contests, scoring at least five in each. MPJ has now posted five or more first quarter points in each of his last eight games and in 11 of his last 12 overall. This is a play to ride with until it climbs to 5.5. Mash the More on MPJ for Tuesday night’s action.
Pick: More
Writers note: The lines are constantly changing on Sleeper (and sometimes expiring), so there is a high probability that one or all of the numbers may no longer be the same when you open your app. There are excellent values when they are first posted, with the only catch being that they are not all released at the same time. Vigilance could provide a solid return on investment this season, literally.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | RadioPublic | Breaker | Castbox | Pocket Casts
Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.